Goto lens?

Kiwizinho · 10-03-2019, 03:51 PM - **1 Like**

Sigma 17-70 2.8-4.5 is my most useful lens that I'd never want to be without, although I've been tossing up getting a DA 16-85
Pros with the Sigma: Faster aperture, close focus 'macro'. Pros with the DA 16-85: Bigger zoom range, weather sealed, quick shift, silent AF.

**mikesbike** · 10-03-2019, 04:16 PM - **2 Likes**

My go-to lens depends on what I am going to!

fehknt · 10-03-2019, 05:36 PM - **1 Like**

35mm digital: used to be my dfa100, probably currently the dfa 50.
67: 105, especially if I carry a couple extension tubes, though recently I've been loving the 135 macro.

roberts_camera · 10-03-2019, 05:45 PM - **1 Like**

My go-to lenses are my DA 35mm f/2.4 and my DA* 50-135mm f/2.8

The 35mm is a great walkaround lens that is surprisingly sharp for its price and has great colors. The 50-135mm is also seriously sharp, even wide open, IF my K-50 decides to catch focus... I've realized that I have better results just manually focusing.

gatorguy · 10-03-2019, 05:50 PM - **1 Like**

D FA100 here, with the 50-135 close behind

**Just1MoreDave** · 10-03-2019, 06:20 PM - **1 Like**

The DA 18-135 is it. Recently I got a K-30 and the 18-135 is on it, to take random unplanned shots. Then I can put a more specialized lens on my K-5 IIs like the DA70.

northcoastgreg · 10-03-2019, 06:45 PM - **1 Like**

On the KP, the DA 55-300 PLM has gotten, by far, the most use — partly because as a partner to the K-1, the KP has to shoulder the lion's share of the telephoto work. On the K-1, the DFA 28-105 dominates by a fair margin. However, since acquiring an FA 43 a few weeks ago, not only have I not used the DFA 28-105, I haven't even bothered to bring it with me on photo excursions, pairing the 43 with the DFA 15-30 and the FA-J 75-300.

I would also note that neither the DA 55-300 PLM or the DFA 28-105 are my best or favorite lenses, they're just the most useful.

wings · 10-03-2019, 07:28 PM

Originally posted by tokyoscape

Not a Natgeo photographer :P

Actually he is very well known

Quote:

and I wonder if any of there photographer use Pentax?

He did not use Pentax, but did have a goto lens always attached.

Quote:

As for me it is DA21 smc. Best Pentax APSC urban walk around day or night for me. And I love it Starbursts effort at night.

Thanks.

Thagomizer · 10-03-2019, 08:32 PM - **1 Like**

16-85 is what's most often on my KP for general (i.e. non-macro) shooting. When I was deciding what lens to get between it and the 18-135 for a trip to Yellowknife, I read reviews and other threads here on the forum which seemed to give the 16-85 the edge in image quality. I also decided that I would miss the wide end more than the long end. I've been very pleased with the results.

**DWS1** · 10-03-2019, 08:35 PM

For me and my K70, my favorite is the DA* 300mm. However, my default lens is the D FA 28 - 105mm with the DA 55-300 PLM in the pack or on my K50. I'm not really much of a wide angle shooter.

**bkpix** · 10-03-2019, 08:43 PM - **1 Like**

Go to on my KP is the brilliant 15 Limited. Close second, and usually mounted on my other KP, is the 55-300 PLM.

**K-Three** · 10-03-2019, 08:45 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by FozzFoster

Probably my 18-135mm..
If I have an inkling that I'll need more reach I'll go for my 55-300.

My rig too, except more often than not the 55-300 is on my K3, and the 18-135 is close at hand, The 15LTD is buried deeper in the bag but comes along.
Like others, I only take my other primes when I know what I'm going to shoot.

Kozlok · 10-03-2019, 09:27 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Kiwizinho

Sigma 17-70 2.8-4.5 is my most useful lens that I'd never want to be without, although I've been tossing up getting a DA 16-85
Pros with the Sigma: Faster aperture, close focus 'macro'. Pros with the DA 16-85: Bigger zoom range, weather sealed, quick shift, silent AF.

I have both. In practice, the larger zoom range is nice, but not major. The weather sealing is what did it for me. I think the Sigma is a little soft wide open, so it's effectively the same aperture as the 16-85, which is good from wide open. At the same apertures, the 16-85 is a little sharper, and the images are more pleasing, but the differences are not large. The downside is cost of the 16-85.

If you are on a budget, and don't need WR, I'd keep the Sigma and spend the money on a prime lens or a wide lens.

**bwgv001** · 10-03-2019, 10:13 PM

I seem to go through phases of more wide (i.e. 31mm), and more tele use (i.e. 77mm); not sure whether this is related to what I am shooting or simply my mood.

beachboy2 · 10-03-2019, 10:18 PM - **1 Like**

Three lenses most likely with K1ii are Irix 15mm f2.4, Sigma EX 70-200 f2.8 and Sigma EX 28-70 f2.8. All usable wide open.

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10-03-2019, 03:51 PM - 1 Like	#31
Kiwizinho Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Blenheim Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,291	Sigma 17-70 2.8-4.5 is my most useful lens that I'd never want to be without, although I've been tossing up getting a DA 16-85 Pros with the Sigma: Faster aperture, close focus 'macro'. Pros with the DA 16-85: Bigger zoom range, weather sealed, quick shift, silent AF.

10-03-2019, 04:16 PM - 2 Likes	#32
mikesbike Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Southeastern Michigan Posts: 4,549	My go-to lens depends on what I am going to!

10-03-2019, 05:36 PM - 1 Like	#33
fehknt Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 142	35mm digital: used to be my dfa100, probably currently the dfa 50. 67: 105, especially if I carry a couple extension tubes, though recently I've been loving the 135 macro.

10-03-2019, 05:45 PM - 1 Like	#34
roberts_camera Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana Posts: 81	My go-to lenses are my DA 35mm f/2.4 and my DA* 50-135mm f/2.8 The 35mm is a great walkaround lens that is surprisingly sharp for its price and has great colors. The 50-135mm is also seriously sharp, even wide open, IF my K-50 decides to catch focus... I've realized that I have better results just manually focusing.

10-03-2019, 05:50 PM - 1 Like	#35
gatorguy Moderator Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Central Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,092	D FA100 here, with the 50-135 close behind

10-03-2019, 06:20 PM - 1 Like	#36
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	The DA 18-135 is it. Recently I got a K-30 and the 18-135 is on it, to take random unplanned shots. Then I can put a more specialized lens on my K-5 IIs like the DA70.

10-03-2019, 06:45 PM - 1 Like	#37
northcoastgreg Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Northern Michigan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,173	On the KP, the DA 55-300 PLM has gotten, by far, the most use — partly because as a partner to the K-1, the KP has to shoulder the lion's share of the telephoto work. On the K-1, the DFA 28-105 dominates by a fair margin. However, since acquiring an FA 43 a few weeks ago, not only have I not used the DFA 28-105, I haven't even bothered to bring it with me on photo excursions, pairing the 43 with the DFA 15-30 and the FA-J 75-300. I would also note that neither the DA 55-300 PLM or the DFA 28-105 are my best or favorite lenses, they're just the most useful.

10-03-2019, 07:28 PM	#38
wings Senior Member Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 209 Original Poster	Originally posted by tokyoscape Not a Natgeo photographer :P Actually he is very well known Quote: and I wonder if any of there photographer use Pentax? He did not use Pentax, but did have a goto lens always attached. Quote: As for me it is DA21 smc. Best Pentax APSC urban walk around day or night for me. And I love it Starbursts effort at night. Thanks.

10-03-2019, 08:32 PM - 1 Like	#39
Thagomizer Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: London Ontario Posts: 2,068	16-85 is what's most often on my KP for general (i.e. non-macro) shooting. When I was deciding what lens to get between it and the 18-135 for a trip to Yellowknife, I read reviews and other threads here on the forum which seemed to give the 16-85 the edge in image quality. I also decided that I would miss the wide end more than the long end. I've been very pleased with the results.

10-03-2019, 08:35 PM	#40
DWS1 Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Arkansas, USA Posts: 1,169	For me and my K70, my favorite is the DA* 300mm. However, my default lens is the D FA 28 - 105mm with the DA 55-300 PLM in the pack or on my K50. I'm not really much of a wide angle shooter.

10-03-2019, 08:43 PM - 1 Like	#41
bkpix Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Creswell, Oregon Photos: Albums Posts: 568	Go to on my KP is the brilliant 15 Limited. Close second, and usually mounted on my other KP, is the 55-300 PLM.

10-03-2019, 08:45 PM - 2 Likes	#42
K-Three Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2014 Location: Pugetopolis, WA Photos: Gallery Posts: 938	Originally posted by FozzFoster Probably my 18-135mm.. If I have an inkling that I'll need more reach I'll go for my 55-300. My rig too, except more often than not the 55-300 is on my K3, and the 18-135 is close at hand, The 15LTD is buried deeper in the bag but comes along. Like others, I only take my other primes when I know what I'm going to shoot.

10-03-2019, 09:27 PM - 1 Like	#43
Kozlok Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Albuquerque Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,148	Originally posted by Kiwizinho Sigma 17-70 2.8-4.5 is my most useful lens that I'd never want to be without, although I've been tossing up getting a DA 16-85 Pros with the Sigma: Faster aperture, close focus 'macro'. Pros with the DA 16-85: Bigger zoom range, weather sealed, quick shift, silent AF. I have both. In practice, the larger zoom range is nice, but not major. The weather sealing is what did it for me. I think the Sigma is a little soft wide open, so it's effectively the same aperture as the 16-85, which is good from wide open. At the same apertures, the 16-85 is a little sharper, and the images are more pleasing, but the differences are not large. The downside is cost of the 16-85. If you are on a budget, and don't need WR, I'd keep the Sigma and spend the money on a prime lens or a wide lens.

10-03-2019, 10:13 PM	#44
bwgv001 Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Alabama Photos: Gallery Posts: 697	I seem to go through phases of more wide (i.e. 31mm), and more tele use (i.e. 77mm); not sure whether this is related to what I am shooting or simply my mood.

10-03-2019, 10:18 PM - 1 Like	#45
beachboy2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 222	Three lenses most likely with K1ii are Irix 15mm f2.4, Sigma EX 70-200 f2.8 and Sigma EX 28-70 f2.8. All usable wide open.